Middle English Dictionary Entry
flǒur-de-līce, flǒurdelīs n.
Entry Info
| Forms | flǒur-de-līce, flǒurdelīs n. Also flour de lyce, flour deluce. Pl. flǒur-de-līce, flǒurs-de-līce, flourdeluces. |
| Etymology | AF flour de lis lily flower; usually taken as flour delice flower of joy, lovely flower (whence AL flōs dēliciae); also as flour de luce flower of light (by association with L lūc-em). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. delice.
1.
(a) A flowering plant of the genus Iris, the fleur-de-lis; often as fig. for Virgin Mary; (b) the fleur-de-lis (esp. the root) used in medicine.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Assump.Virg.(2) (Auch)44 : For palm of alle flour is pris, Of rose rode, of flour delis.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.238 : His nekke whit was as the flour delys.
- c1390 Marie Mayden (Vrn)8 : What leode þis lesson lykes to lere, Be token hit is þe Flourdelys.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)753 : Þy colour passez þe flour-de-lys.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)25a : Iris. Flour delice..is like leuyr; but this erbe..beryth a blewe purpur colour, and the levir beryth a yelowe flour.
- a1450 As ofte (Tan 346)26 : As ofte as roses beth both rede and white, And flourdelis plesaunt and delectable.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4011 : Lelies growe among these netlis thikke, And flourdelis amyd these weedie wikke.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)43.242 : A fair flowr-delys Sye thow there.
- a1450 I am a chyld (Sln 2593)247 : Myn fleych xal fadyn as flour-de-lys.
- a1500 Goe lytyll byll (Dc 326)33 : Her flauour excedith the fflowr-delyce.
b
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)25a : Flours delise is a souerayne worcher for the dropsy.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)165/19 : Irus is an herbe men clepe flourdelys..and it haȝt þe same vertu þat fane haȝt.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)146/435 : Floure delyse shuld be gadrid in the end of vere, and dry itt in þe sone and it will last ij ȝere.
2.
(a) A representation of a fleur-de-lis on a coin, a spoon, etc.; (b) a heraldic device; often as fig. for France or the French king; (c) the name of a building [prob. a shop with a fleur-de-lis as its sign].
Associated quotations
a
- (1434) EEWills102/7 : A whit couerkell with roses & flourdeluces.
- (1448) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3195 : That oure lege lord the Kyng is nout abyl to bere the flouridlys nor the schyp in his nobyl.
- (1452) Will York in Sur.Soc.45127 : vj cocliaria..signata cum flore vocato flour de lice.
- c1500 Money Coins MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)1.419 : A dokat of Florens havyng on the on syd a gret flour de lys and on the odir syd a postill with a crosse.
b
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)56 : Þe barouns of fraunce þider conne gon..to iugge þe flemmisshe..þourh þe flour de lis.
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)1055 : Wikeles queintise is ȝalu & grene, Floure de liis sett bi tvene.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)11/25 : Þan þe riche floure de lice Wan þare ful litill prise; Fast he fled for ferde.
- c1450(1429) Lydg.Hen.VI Coron.Banquet (Gldh 3313)5 : See the braunche..Heriter of the floure-de-lys..This sixt Herry.
- a1456(c1430) Lydg.Mum.Windsor (Trin-C R.3.20)35 : A shelde of azure..And in þe feelde of golde three floure delys.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3333 : He was buskede in a blee of a blewe noble, With flourdelice of golde floreschede al ouer.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)94 : Wende thy waye..To Charles þat beris the flour delyce.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.3 (Hrl 2169)200 : The armys of Yngelond, the bordore sylvyr..the flowrdelyes of golde.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.5 (Hrl 2169)188 : [John Molsoo] beryth sylvyr iij flourdelys of gold.
- a1500(1429) Lydg.Hen.VI Coron.Roundel (Hrl 7333)2 : Reioice, ye reames of Englond & of Fraunce, A braunche þat sprang oute of the floure-de-lys, Blode of Seint Edward and Seint Lowys, God hath this day sent in gouernaunce.
c
- (1385) in Williams Holborn2.1073 : [The said messuages are called, one, the] Flourdelice [and the other, the] Aungell on the hope.
- (1405) in Williams Holborn2.1075 : [Robert Plessyngton was seised..of two houses..called] the Aungell on the Hope [and] the Floure de lice.